Godly Sorrow vs Worldly Sorrow

Today’s message is about repentance. Repentance is an act of the will to make a significant change in our lives. Repentance is not a feeling, it is an action, it is a choice. Repentance means that we recognize that we have made wrong choices in the past, that we feel sorrow for those wrong choices, and that we have set a goal to stop making those wrong choices and start making right choices. Repentance is sometimes described as a change of mind or a change of direction.

The Apostle Paul found out through a letter that many people in the Corinthian church were sinning against God and against one another in many ways. Paul wrote a firm but a loving letter to them telling them specific ways in which they were at fault and needed to change. We have that letter in our Bible and it is called First Corinthians. Then Paul sent Titus to encourage them and to see how they were doing. After Titus returned Paul wrote these words in the second letter to the Corinthians:

• But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.   2 Corinthians 7:6-10

When the Corinthians received Paul’s first letter, it caused them grief and sorrow. They knew they had done wrong. But theirs was a godly sorrow which led to repentance and salvation. Paul also points out that there is another kind of sorrow, which he calls a worldly sorrow, and the worldly sorrow leads to death. In the Bible, we have examples of both these kinds of sorrow.

In the Old Testament, King Saul disobeyed God’s commands on several occasions, but rather than repenting and asking forgiveness, he made excuses. Finally, God took the kingdom from Saul and gave it to David. Saul felt great sorrow that led to madness. He spent many years trying to hunt down David to kill him. Finally, in the end, Saul killed himself with his own sword. Saul had a worldly sorrow that led to death.

David also sinned against God by taking another man’s wife. When confronted about his sin, David repented, asked forgiveness and changed his life. Psalm 51 records David’s words of confession and his commitment to change. Rather than fearing God’s judgment, David praised God for His mercy and grace. David had a godly sorrow that led to repentance and salvation.

David had a personal relationship with God that was founded on a deep love and an unshakable faith. We can see David’s love for God, throughout the Psalms, especially Psalm 23. This love for God and this understanding of God’s mercy is what led David to repent of his sin. It was not God wrath or judgment that led David to repent, but the goodness and mercy of God.

• Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 5:4

So, we see there are two things that lead to repentance. The first is a genuine godly sorrow. The second is an understanding of the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that God offers through Jesus Christ. If all we have is sorrow for sin with no understanding of the grace and mercy of God, it leads to despair and death. In the New Testament, we see two disciples of Christ who had sorrow for sin. Judas was the disciple who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

• Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.  Matthew 27:3-5

Peter also sinned and was very sorrowful:

• “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me.”  …

• … Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ...

• ... And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour, still, another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. 

• ... And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.  Luke 22:31-62

Peter sinned and was extremely sorrowful. But Peter had a godly sorrow that led to stronger faith and genuine repentance. Peter’s sorrow turned to joy when he saw Jesus raised from the dead. Peter’s temporary failure helped him to be a strong leader who strengthened the faith of his brothers.

There may be someone in this audience today who has a terrible sorrow. There may be someone who has a terrible weight of sin and remorse. There may be someone who does not know the infinite love, grace, and mercy of God. Maybe there is someone who has no hope and who wants to end it all. Or perhaps it hasn’t gotten that bad, but you know you have made bad choices in life and you want to make a new start.

You may be a follower of Jesus Christ, but you have started to backslide. God seems far away, and you don’t have the joy of salvation you once had. Whatever your situation, I want to tell you that God loves you very much. God loves you so much that He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Jesus rose again from the grave and through that resurrection, he will give you the power to overcome sin in this life and to live with God forever in heaven.

I’m going to lead you all in a prayer of confession and forgiveness of sin. If you pray with me, with the faith of a small child, I can promise you based on the truth of God’s holy Word, the Bible, that God will hear your prayer, He will forgive your sin, He will send the Holy Spirit to indwell you forever, He will give you the power to resist temptation, and He will give you the free gift of Eternal Life.

Please listen as I pray, and pray these same words in your heart:

"Lord I know I am a sinner. I have done many terrible things. I am weak. I do not have self-control. I do things I should not do and don’t do the things that I should. I know I deserve to be punished for my sins. But I believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sin. I believe that He rose again from the dead to give me eternal life. I freely receive the gift of forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of Eternal Life. I determine to put off the sins of my past and live a new life of faith, love, and obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus Name Amen."

Image Source: http://eternalcall.com/salvation/repentance/